Mail-box.



'1. N. SCHILLING.

MAIL B0X.'v

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21. I9I6.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

LETTERS MAIL BOX.

APPL1cAT1oN-F1LED FEB. 21, 1916.

Patented Feb. 12, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

"l sin: IV. 5d:

ENTRE, STATE@ FATENF @FFIQE JOI-IN N. SCHILLING, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

MAIL-IBOX.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 112, Mild.

Application filed February 21, 1916. Serial No. 79,512.

desined articularlv for use in cities and' villages where letters, as well as newspapers and parcel post packages may be deposited.

The main object of my invention resides in the provision of a structure of guard mechanism through which the mail is deposited which is in itself burglar proof and at the same time is very rigid in construction, so that when once the box is placed for public use, the likelihood of its becoming broken or deranged will be reduced to a minimum. My guard structure comprises an entrance door and a receptacle member so connected with each other that as the door is opened, the reception member is swung to a receptive position and when the door is closed, this reception member is inverted. In its inverted position, it not only deposits the packa e within the box, but also lies in such position that the mail cannot be removed by the insertion of a wire or string.

Still a further object of my invention resides in a novel type of mail bag support, whereby the bag and its support may be withdrawn horizontally from the interior of the box and supported ina substantially rigid position when either in its extended or retracted position.

The preferred embodiment of my inveir tion is shown in the accompanying sheets of drawings, in which similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts, and in which:

Figure l is a front `elevation of the major portion of my improved letter box,

Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the structure shown in Fig. l,

lFig. 3 is a transverse section of the lower half of my mail box showing the mail bag in extended position in solid lines and in retracted position in dotted lines,

Fig. 4 is a partial plan view of the mail bag and its supporting structure shown detached,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective .showiner the manner of supporting the bag on its holder,

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 6--6 of Fig. 2,

FFig. 7 is a section taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 8 is`a section taken on line 8--8 of Fig. 6, and,

Fig. 9 is an enlarged cross section through the bag support showing the sliding connection between this bag support and the box casing.

In the several views there is shown a main casing 1 which is provided with an arched l top such as is shown at 2 and a pair of hinged doors 3, which close the lower portion of the casing as a whole and which may be held in locked position by means of the structure shown at 4. A hinged door is provided, such as is shown at 5, through which the letter mail may be dropped and in addition to this, there is provided an arcuate door 6 through which the larger packages may be dropped. This arcuate door conforms in external shape to the arched top as is shown and is provided with a pair of radially arranged sides 7. To each of these sides there is rigidly attached a segmental gear 8 which gears are of a size slightly smaller than the ends of the arms 7, so that these arms overlap the gear teeth as is shown in both Figs. 2 and 8. These gears are mounted on stub shafts shown at 9 which latter are rotatably supported in bearing members 10 supported on the outside of the casing 1. These segmental gears are designed to mesh with complemental gears 1l, these latter being rigidly secured to the reception member which has been designated 12. Referring to 'Figs. 6 and 8, it will be noted that these gears 11 are socketed as is shown at 13 and are further provided with an entrance slot 14. This arrangement is provided to securely fit over the bearing member 15, which latter is secured to the casing wall as is shown in Fig 6 and each bearing member has an open top 16 into which the axlel may t. The entrance slot 14.- is provided so that the gear 11 may be conveniently placed in position and after the parts are assembled, it is impossible for this gear to become dislodged even should the pins securing it to the re- Y elevate the package to a considerable extent by means of the overlapping of the arms 7 of the door (i, thetwo gears will be prevented from getting out 'of mesh laterally, shouldbefore itis dumped, the center ofthefpack'- age itself by this arrangement remaining substantially at the-pivot point of. the reception member during itsturning dischargingl movement.- Y Further, both the reception member and the door Y6v are? provided with counter weights 19 and 20', which serve the purpose yof automat ically-returni'ng the door 6 to-itsY closed position. Reference to Fig.` 2 will show particularlythat the rear of the casing is providedwith a guard plate 21'curved to be concen- A tricwith the movement of the reception memberto prevent the articles from clog-- gingffthefpassage and also the watershed shown at 22 serves a similar-purpose; Thiswater shed also prevents the use of a wire or'stringI-in removing the packages after they have been mailed and in addition to this, isfin'clined downwardly andoutwardlyto shed all lrain or moisture which maybe deposited upon it.

In the lower portion of thecasing, I have shown abag 23, which bag -is preferably divided into two compartments 24 and 25 bythe partition 26. The compartment 24 isV` designed to receive the 'parcel'postor" larger packages, ywhile the vcompartment 25 Y is designed to receive the letter' mailand consequently' the normal larrangement* of thes'ec'ompartnients is directly beneathvthe discharge-points for the respective-classes of mail. This bag isv detachably supported upon a main rectangular framework^27by means of pins 28 and eyelets-.29. In-additiong'this 'rectangular framework is mounted to slide 'ina horizontal plane within the cas-V Y ingl by means of the roller 30 carried onvthe upper endl of abracket 31, two of these brackets being provided` one yon each rear corner of the rectangular framework 27; These rollers' 30 slide in guide-ways 32 mountedon the inside faces offthe casing side-walls assis: shown. In` orderto-firmlysupport the, frame work i and i consequently vtheb`a,f 22i inf'it-s proper position, Ifhave alsol pivotallymounted az. reachf.- roda-33eme f each.

side of the framework 27 as is shown at 34:.. These reach rods areiofsuch length that. they` will stand in substantially verticalV position when the bag Ais in retracted position as is shown in dotted outline in Figa S'so thatllthe'lower end of the reach rods rest upon the floor of the casing. IiiV this manner the frame-work has four points of support, the two rollers30vand the4` ends `of-the two reach rods 33. How-Y ever, tofalso iirmly support the rectangular framework in a horizontal position when it is in extended- .position as is shown 1n full lines in' Fig.' i3, I have notched the lower ends of the reachrodsxas is? shown at 35 and these notches are designed to copeiate with brackets-136 after the'f manner shownin Fig. 3.

governs whichnotch 35 is to co'actv with the The extent tot which 'the framework-is moved outwardly, .l

bracket 36 andit'will be noted that these.

reach rods lie in an inclined position so that* theyV automatically drop-into the--properfA notch by gravity.k VVhen-itlis desiredl .to retract thea-framework,Vv the reach rods are slightly elevated and the structure'fas" awhole then pushed rearwardly inthe guide# channels 32. Thebracket is also so shaped that in the return movement-by elevation' of the rods 33,' these rods will not-berefmoved from their proper position because;

of engagementwith the opposite legsofthe:Y v

bracket 36. Y From the foregoing connection withthe accompanyingv sheets description, taken in;

of drawings, it will be noted that'I 'have pro-V vided a mail box which isv practicallyburglar 'proof and at kthe/same time, it'is' very convenient of operation, this especially' in vconnection with parcel postl packages:`

The device is also so constructed that the parts are all rigidlyv held `infli'osition tof rey duce breakage to a m1nimum. In addition g to this. a convenient structurefhas been-pro@ vided for moving the receivingbagbetween;

operative and inoperative positions.`

That I claim, is: c

l. A mail box comprising a casing, aidoor structure through which the mail is inserted, abag into which the Inailv may beidropped,

arectangular' frame on which said bagfisk supported. a `fuideway von theA insidefof the` casing, means whereby the rear end of' said frame slidablv enea-ges said guidewayi a bracket carried bv the. inside-offsaid casing" beneath said guideway, and a reach rod pivotally attached at one end-fte -saidA frame and provided withv a `series ,ofnotches-Ua'djacent its other end designedto-'coperate with said bracket toi-supporttheframei in extended position.' Y Y 'i 'Y 2. Amail box comprisingfa casing,'a door Y structure through which ihemail is inserted, abag into which the mail may be'dropped,

a rectangular .-fr-ame-:on-Whichs said .hagis supported, a guideway on the inside of the casing7 means whereby the rear end of said frame slidably engages said guideway, a bracket carried by the inside of said casing beneath said guideway, and a reach rod pivotally attached at one end to said frame and provided With a series of notches adjacent its other end designed to coperate With said bracket to support the frame in extended position, said rod being of a length so that its notched end will rest on the mail box Hoor to support the frame in retracted position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN N. SCHILLING.

Witnesses:

WALTER E. L. BooK, A. L. PHnLPs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patente,

' Washington, ID. C. 

